Final answer:
Automatic white preference refers to favoring white individuals, which can lead to prejudice and discrimination against others. Contemporary philosophers support affirmative action as a means of addressing past discrimination and promoting fairness. Perception can be influenced by biases and prejudices, as shown by research on racial stereotypes impacting perception.
Step-by-step explanation:
Automatic white preference refers to the favoring or giving preference to white individuals due to societal biases and historical privileges bestowed upon them. This preference can result in prejudice against people who are not part of the favored category, creating inequality and discrimination.
Contemporary American philosophers have supported affirmative action practices as a means of addressing historical discrimination and promoting fairness. They argue that these preferences can help redress the exclusion of minorities and improve the overall fairness of processes like admission and hiring.
Perception is influenced by biases, prejudices, and cultural factors. Research has shown that implicit racial prejudice and stereotypes can significantly impact perception. For example, studies have shown that non-Black individuals may identify weapons faster and be more likely to mistake non-weapons as weapons when paired with images of Black individuals. These biases have real-life implications and have been evident in high-profile cases where unarmed Black individuals were mistaken as threats.